YouTube Channel, Khan Academy, Shines During 60 Minutes Spotlight

We’ve talked a lot over the years about the exciting prospects of online video entering—and disrupting—the classroom. Indeed, the world of education is long overdue for an overhaul (at least in the U.S.), and video may be just the tool to do it.

This past Sunday evening, 60 Minutes ran a great piece about the Khan Academy—the nonprofit that started as a YouTube channel with a passion for teaching math and quickly grew into a worldwide organization serving millions with a new kind of education model.

Khan Academy’s lessons are in multiple languages, and people as smart and important as Bill Gates have praised the work they’re doing.

I’m especially intrigued by the concept of flipping the classroom—doing traditional home work (actual worksheets and problems) in the class room, and the traditional classroom work (lectures, lessons) at home.

Khan Academy’s YouTube-and-software approach is already in a pilot classroom, and the students and teachers involved give glowing endorsements for its approach to learning.

And to think… none of it would have been possible if it weren’t for online video—seriously, YouTube makes this whole Khan Academy thing go. How about that? Video may revolutionize education after all.

Here’s the video from 60 Minutes of the complete segment:

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Jeremy Scott is the founder of The Viral Orchard, an Internet marketing firm offering content writing and development services, viral marketing consulting, and SEO services. Jeremy writes constantly, loves online video, and enjoys helping small businesses succeed in any way he can.